Gardens, outdoor instruction to open at six Campbell schools; volunteers needed

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Mallory Traughber instructs visiting students to a natural garden for Santa
Clara County Open Space Authority. Campbell is about to get more gardens at
its schools thanks to the open space group. They are seeking volunteers to
help (photo provided by Vicki Chan).

Four schools will have edible gardens and native gardens and two will have edible gardens. The size of the gardens will depend on the size of the school’s campus.

“The native gardens contain a natural interpretive trail with native plants such as milkweed and sage. They become a stopover spot for migratory birds and encourage native pollinators. They contain signposts with explanations about how Native American tribes used the plants,” said Shawn Shahin, program director for Living Classroom.

The gardens will be utilized by classes from Transitional Kindergarten through third grade. Lessons include activities like making a soup from winter vegetables and baking pretzels with wheat, all plants students grew in the edible garden, to scavenger hunts with clues about native animals.

“We are hoping to have 300 total lessons taught covering roughly over 100 classes. This year, signing up for these lessons will be voluntary. We will recommend each class participate in at least three lessons. If we get the grant again next year, we will extend into 4th and 5th grades,” said Edna Laskin, director of instructional services for the school district.

The money for Living Classroom came from the passage of Measure Q. The $10,000 for lessons came from the Environmental Education Grant Program. The $65,000 for building gardens and hiring staff came from the Urban Open Space Grant Program.

Megan Dreger, grants administrator for the Open Space Authority, said the organization supports environmental education in Campbell.

“We want to help our communities create that closer connection to nature,” said Dreger.

Living Classroom will change the edible gardens that existed at all of the schools and the native gardens at Castlemont and Forest Hill.

“How much the edible gardens were being used was dependent on parent, volunteer, and teacher involvement. If there wasn’t a lot of activity, they went by the wayside. Living Classroom will help upgrade, upkeep, and coordinate the gardens,” said Laskin.

Vicki Moore, founder and interim executive director of Living Classroom, said the gardens make science come alive for students, including those who are English language learners.

“Our lessons are inherently very hands-on and sensory. Key content standards and vocabulary are learned through direct observation and active participation. (This) makes learning relevant and memorable,” said Moore.

Laskin said four of the six schools selected are Title I schools that have high percentages of English Language Learners. At all campuses, students with special needs will be included in garden lessons.

“We are developing an environmental literacy focus in three areas, food systems, human impact, and watersheds and water systems. The lessons will also be aligned with (California’s state-adopted science standards), the Next Generation Science Standards,” said Laskin.

The gardens will be organic and free of pesticides.

“We have some strategies to keep pests away, such as netting to cover the plants (and) washing small insects from the leaves with water. We never use chemicals or sprays or anything that would harm the children or local wildlife,” said Shahin.

Shahin said Living Classroom is now recruiting community members as volunteer docents.

Docents can lead lessons, help build the gardens, or help maintain them. We usually do two to three 3-hour trainings each season. We ask people to volunteer to help with two lessons, or four hours total, a month. It’s perfect for those people who are passionate about gardening, retired scientists, and retired teachers,” said Shahin.

Moore said she is excited for the year ahead. She views this year as an opportunity for the district to determine whether Living Classroom is viable and adds value to its curriculum.

“Our mission is to inspire children to learn about and value the natural world through garden-based education. There are currently Living Classroom gardens at 22 sites in Santa Clara County, including Los Altos, Mountain View, and Palo Alto,” said Moore.

Moore said the native gardens promote an understanding of the natural environment.

“(In these gardens), we plant a minimum of 35 native plant species that attract native wildlife like the monarch butterfly and Western bluebird,” said Moore.

Moore said the edible gardens help students learn about healthy food choices. Laskin added that the concept of garden-based, outside science instruction is new for the district.

“We are all excited for our gardens to be used in a viable way. They’re not only for the kids, but to bring the community together,” said Laskin.

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